cross-posted from: https://linux.community/post/3497784
Example: several of my former coworkers are from Mexico, Peru and Argentina, meaning they share Spanish as a common language.
I used to practice Spanish with them, but my last charge (like a ward’s manager) would yell at us to stop it, use English only. She would get very angry really fast if she heard anything in a language she didn’t understand.
I find it stupid, because some of them would use Spanish to better explain to the new nurses how to do certain procedures, but maybe I’m missing something?
I think it makes sense to have a common language among all of the staff that is spoken whenever business is being discussed, in meetings and things like that.
I think that policing private conversations is kind of weird. I don’t know why they would do that.
Here I am thinking that it would be sick to have more multilingual coworkers. I’m struggling through learning the basics of a couple second languages (not complaining, it is what it is and I’ll get there eventually). So its nice to have a native or fluent speakers around to help communicate with someone who doesn’t speak english that well. Or at all. At work our english-speaking offices expect people who are stationed there to be able to speak English, or to learn it if they don’t. But it’s not mandatory to speak it in-office. Usually it’s just faster for people to speak other languages with non-english locations or ESL people. Honestly its usually it’s the other way around, with people in other places learning English to talk with us, but that doesn’t always work out well. Its nice to be able to do both.
Your (edit - former?) manager sounds sheltered and unprofessional, to say the least. I hope HR gets involved (unless they’re racists too…)
I mean, foreign languages can and sometimes are used to talk shit about people without them knowing. Speaking English in a non-English place is rude for that reason as well, to make it less bait-y.
If even brief, well-explained excursions into Spanish are punished, that’s ideology or personal paranoia, though.
I don’t understand why English speaker’s imaginary fears of being “shit talked” outweigh the comfort of a Spanish speaker using their mother tongue? I don’t understand how English speakers having anxiety translates into Spanish speakers being rude? It sounds like a personal psychological problem certain English speakers project onto people who speak other language; if it’s not prejudice I’m having trouble seeing the difference
I could see this becoming necessary. In Amsterdam and other European tech hubs it’s common to have English-speaking offices, so it’d be bad for team cohesion to have the native speakers form a clique in the lunch room.
I don’t understand how white people in settler colonies can force the people there to speak their language and follow their culture when they stole land from the actual indigenous people who do not support such policies.
Racist, and a way for management to know if workers are discussing unionization.
Not always, it’s also a politeness thing, it depends on context
Preserving “politeness” is the same tactic they use to keep workers from discussing their pay with each other, which is also deeply anti-labor.
Sure, I won’t disagree that it’s anti labour, but being polite to and around your co workers is important
I don’t agree. Forcing people to use a language they are less comfortable with just so others can eavesdrop has nothing to do with “politeness.”
It’s not eavesdropping lol. I worked a company that was primarily Chinese people at the head office and they made a rule of speaking in English for inclusivity.
The post references any usage of spanish as bannable. There’s a difference between workers speaking spanish with each other while someone who only speaks English is present, and workers speaking spanish with each other when nobody else is involved with the conversation. I also worked at a company with a huge portion of speakers that were uncomfortable with speaking English despite myself only speaking English, any attempt to ban their language would hurt the company.
Right? Hence context
You mean, what you ignored?
Lol no, i clearly didn’t
I am directly replying to the context listed out by the user, which in this case seems to be racist and anti-worker.
And I am directly replying to you saying there is context and I specifically said not always
I think you should have asked what context was being referred to.
I can’t really imagine a context where it would be a politeness thing unless the English-only speaker was actively involved in the conversation but was being intentionally shut-out, and not because it was easier to convey in non-English languages but deliberately for spite.
I can’t really imagine a context except for this very common context which completely negates my point
Well said!
It isn’t the context brought up in the post body, so no, it doesn’t completely negate my point. The post is talking about banning any and all use of spanish, period, and the other user came in trying to talk about a different situation entirely.
Why do you care about what I do if I’m not talking you? If talking a different language seems impolite to you and you’re not the one talking, who the fuck cares? That’s a you problem.
Sure you’re allowed to be ass, that’s also a you problem lol
‘allowed’ lol thank for the permission boss
Lol kay
I was always told it’s a bit rude to use a language that not everyone present understands, since you’re basically excluding people from the conversation. Your example seems a bit silly though.
Offense: “a bit rude”
Punishment: no job, bad references, no health insurance
What’s funny is no charge nurse is capable of getting you to the point of getting fired over this shit. They’re just capable of making you want to quit. Management does not like spending money orienting new nurses.
Talking to a person excludes all others by default. If I’m talking to you I’m not talking to the guy behind me. What does the guy behind me care what language we’re using? And why should I care about the one I’m NOT talking to.
Hallway chat is the reason people come to the office.
It’s impossible to take part if people use a language you don’t know.
I thought people came to work because they needed the money, lol. And, yes, it’s impossible, and perhaps they don’t wanna include me in the conversation… am I supposed to force them?
Yes. It’s polite to communicate in a way others can participate
If you don’t want to do it, don’t hire people who don’t speak the company language
'How dare you not letting me police and force myself on your conversations? How inconsiderate of you ’
Spotted the American.
“Police”?
I’m Finnish and I work for a Finnish company with 30-40 different nationalities, we use English as the official language
Nah if it’s the workplace, I treat it like talking at a dinner table. I’m definitely using the common language and not excluding my coworkers. I’m being thoughtful towards the people around me.
I also get that speaking in a language my company doesn’t understand could make them uncomfortable. I speak a 2nd language. The very few times that I’ve used it at work (not in an interpreter/translator capacity), it was because a certain coworker switched to talk shit about another coworker to me. So yes, people absolutely do this to talk shit. It’s not paranoia, it happens.
Same. English is my second language but I still make sure to speak english even if talking to someone from my country if there is someone who doesn’t speak portuguese nearby
I hope they then talked about this person right in front of her in Spanish. LOL.
At the break table talking another language, no problem. Needing it to be able to understand their job, problem. Unless your clients are mostly Spanish it is their needs that are being overlooked. They need someone fully competent in an official language. If nurses revert to Spanish when they don’t understand things, then their manager doesn’t know what it is that they are having a problem with, unless someone is translating for her. She could end up in trouble for putting someone on a task that they are not able to do. I don’t immediately see it a a racist problem (although it could be) but a work safety problem.
Fucking stupid. The Haitians didn’t speak English and we needed our bilingual guy to speak Spanish sometimes or else we wouldn’t get shit done. Oh also the boss’s English was shit too and sometimes him and the others from the country our company was from needed to communicate clearly
Charge nurses and power tripping, name a more iconic duo.
If you’re scared of another language it just means you’re a puta gordo
50+ Caucasian cis male multinational tech company middle manager here.
I speak Spanish on work zooms, when everyone else is in Mexico.
TBH I do it because I try to avoid being the asshole boss who everyone else has to accommodate, and instead be the pluralistic, humble boss that shows appropriate deference and respect to the employees that actually do the work.
It seems like a combination of racism (I bet they wouldn’t get worked up over two Norwegians communicating in their native language) and petty managerial tyranny.
I live somewhere where French is prevalent but there’s also an important English community.
When people are speaking in English on break there’s normally no problem … but ! If you speak Arab, Spanish or even Creole on your break you’ll probably lived exactly the same thing you experienced.
My point is … racism, pernicious racism and control
Sounds like that wasn’t your employer, that was your manager. I’d take that to the employer and ask if this rule is authorized, because it seems like a huge overstep on your manager’s part.
